Press Releases28 Jul 23

Nationwide features National Cathedral

The National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, was the subject of Nationwide on RTÉ 1 on Wednesday 26 July 2023.

Filming for the production over about three days included conversations with the Dean, Dr William Morton, the Administrator, Mr Gavan Woods, the Master of the Music, Mr Stuart Nicholson, and some of the choristers, the Education Officer, Mr Clark Brydon, one of the members of the Cathedral Chapter, Canon Jennifer McWhirter, as well as with worshippers, visitors, and volunteers.

In the programme, Dean Morton describes the worship – the musical and choral tradition of Saint Patrick’s – as the heartbeat of the Cathedral, and that the Choir School (the only one of its kind in Ireland) is the oldest school in Ireland, 600 years old in ten years’ time! The Master of the Music reiterates this theme and describes the chorister recruitment drive currently.

Numbers flocking to the Cathedral are actually up on those of 2019 when an estimated 650,000 people came through the doors. There are about 70 staff, with, over the summer months, as many more volunteers.

The programme provides a wonderful insight into the many aspects of life in the Cathedral and can be played back until Friday, 25 August, at this link.